Application Deadline for U of A French in Grenoble, Summer Session II, Extended to Feb. 15

Application Deadline for U of A French in Grenoble, Summer Session II, Extended to Feb. 15
Kathy Comfort

The Office of Study Abroad has extended the deadline for applications for the Grenoble program to Feb. 15.

Earn six credit hours of French, which can count toward the major or minor in French. What students receive credit for depends on their previous French coursework and/or experience. Kathy Comfort, professor of French and faculty leader, will accompany the group from XNA to Grenoble and will be onsite the first 10 days to help students acclimate and figure out their course equivalencies.

API, the program provider, has a staff in Grenoble that works closely with the U of A and its student participants, organizing outings (cultural events, outdoor activities, etc.). Last year's activities included a hike in the Alps, a visit to the Chartreuse monastery, an overnight trip to Annecy and Geneva, canoeing on the river and zip-lining at the top of the Bastille that overlooks the city of Grenoble.

Grenoble is a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly city, so just walking around and visiting the parks and other attractions can fill your afternoons for several weeks! Like many cities in France and in Europe, it boasts a great pubic transportation system (buses, trams, local trains) that makes exploring that much easier.

The intensive language classes are taught at the Centre Universitaire d'Études Françaises, a part of the Université de Grenoble-Alpes. Students take classes in the mornings then are free to explore the city or participate in a cultural activity in the afternoon. There are students from around the world studying at the Centre Universitaire d'Études Françaises, many of whom do not speak English. It's yet another way to practice your French.

Don't forget, you will be in France for the lead-up to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris! 

For previous participants, the best part of the program is the host family stay, which allowed them to become a part of the community. The families, many of whom have been hosting international students for years, are carefully vetted by API. They enjoy sharing their culture and learning about those of the students in their homes. And U of A students have discovered that dinner time with the host families is a great time to put into practice what they learned in class!

The program fee includes breakfast and dinner with the family. Students may buy their lunch at the on-campus cafeteria, where they can buy a sandwich and drink for less than 5 euros. There are many sandwich shops around Grenoble just off the tram stop in the center of town where students can grab a lunch on the go.

If you have any questions about this life-changing experience, contact professor Comfort at kcomfort@uark.edu.

 

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